Grants

Constitution Day Grants

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) is accepting applications for Constitution Day Grants. Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, PA. In partnership with the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will award grants of up to $1,400 to institutions supporting existing or developing Constitution Day programming that engages with the origins, ideals, and legacies of the U.S. Constitution. 

Purpose

As a humanities council interested in exploring the intersections of history, culture, and the law, LEH is extending this opportunity to your organization to support existing or developing Constitution Day programming. Institutions interested in receiving a grant of $1,400 are invited to submit an application through the LEH grant portal by April 28, 2026, at 11:59 P.M.  

 

Eligibility

Humanities-based organizations operating within the sixty-four parishes of Louisiana are eligible to apply. Organizations must be nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; public-facing organizations operating within accredited institutions of higher learning; state and local government agencies; or state or federally recognized Native American tribal governments in Louisiana. LEH aims to reach all areas of the state and support organizations of all sizes and communities of benefit.  

 

Project Activity Timeline

Funded project activities should occur on or around Constitution Day (Thursday, September 17, 2026.) All project activities must be completed by October 1, 2026.

 

Award Details

Organizations may request up to $1,400 to cover allowable costs, such as (but not limited to): 

  • Speaker or panelist honoraria
  • Technical support costs 
  • Audience evaluation costs  
  • Space rental fee 
  • Program-specific publicity 

We welcome non-traditional types of programming. 1:1 Cost sharing is required for this grant.  

Scholars should be included in the planning, implementation, and/or evaluation of the program.  

 

Unallowable costs under this grant include:  

  • Food, entertainment, or alcoholic beverages
  • Expenses incurred prior to the grant award date 
  • Equipment purchases 
  • Creative and performing arts (theater, dance, music, opera, etc.)  
  • Research, writing, and publication of material targeted exclusively or primarily for a scholarly audience  
  • Scholarships and fellowships  
  • Course work for academic credit, except for teacher institutes  
  • Museum or library acquisitions  
  • Construction or renovation (capital improvements projects)  
  • Social or political action  
  • Archival materials without a public component  
  • Institutional staffing or any other form of operational support 

To avoid advocacy and bias, programs sponsored by the LEH must provide for a balance of viewpoints, especially those projects dealing with controversial contemporary issues. For example, a project addressing the First Amendment’s relation to religion in public schools should provide subject matter for both sides of the issue.   

 

Applicants will need to include the following required components:    

  • Applicants must submit their federal tax identification/EIN number.    
  • Applicants must submit their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). For further information on this component, please visit SAM.gov UEI.     
  • Organizations must submit copies of their IRS determination letter or equivalent documentation confirming tax status (R-1056).  

Resources

2026 CONSTITUTION DAY GRANT RFP
SAMPLE APPLICATION
BUDGET TEMPLATE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SAMPLE AWARD AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

For questions, please contact LEH Grants Manager Wayne Dowdy at dowdy@leh.org.